Service installation



Oct. l2, 1954 F, H, MUELLER ETAL 2,691,384

SERVICE INSTALLATION Filed Jan. 10, 195o s sheets-sheet 1 so F2 68 4- INVENTORS 2. 32 24 F I8 FRANK H. MUELLER Qq?,

WALTER J' BOWAN ATTORNEY Oct. 12, 1954 F. MUELLER ErAL SERVICE INSTALLATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 INVENTORS FRANK H. MUELLER WALTER J'. BOWAN Oct. l2, 1954 H MUELLER ETAL SERVICE INSTALLATION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1950 INVENTORS FRANK H. MUELLER vf,

l WALTER JBOWAN *BY f ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 12, 1954 UNITD ST OFFICE Ill., assignors to Mueller poration of illinois Co., Decatur, Ill., a co1'- Application January l0, 1950, Serial No. 137,768

Claims. l

The present invention relates to gas or water service installations or the like of the type usually employed at the curb to provide for closing or opening a branch line from the main. line leadfd ing to a building which is supplied with the gas or water.

The service installation is of a type having a tubular liner extending from the surface of the ground with a closure cap thereon, and with a housingand support at the lower end of the liner for the stop valve or cock, the liner being surrounded by filled in earth after installation and providing for the insertion of a tool therethrough to open and close the cock when desired.

It being understood that such installations when installed are left in place for long periods of time Without any maintenance or upkeep, it is the principal object of the invention to provide such an installation which protects itself against rust and corrosion and protects the valve and pipes leading thereto against the application of any downwardly directed force which might injure these parts.

More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a tubular liner and attached cockenclosing box of such deisgn as to preclude the application of any pressure on the cock or its connecting pipes by the enclosing box or by the customary upper casing which forms a part of the tubular liner.

A further specic object of the invention is to provide a liner comprising the usual telescoping lower and upper casing parts in which the upper casing part may be inserted upwardly into the lower casing part when its cover cap is removed while making provision to limit any downward movement of the inner casing to an extent sufcient to contact the stop cock and thus injure the same.

A further specific object is to provide such a liner having an upper casing with a cover cap thereon of novel design, the construction being such that the threaded end and connecting portion of the upper casing is protected against corrosion and rust.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protective housing or box for the stop cock consisting of a unitary footpiece on which the base Y of the stop cock is supported, and an enclosing housing which rests upon the footpiece, there being complementary base anges on the footpiece and the housing or box which are maintained in the same plane to form a substantially flat circular plate bearing on the ground and thus supporting the entire assembly. In connection with this objective, we have provided a footpiece of such design as to provide support for'the cock beneath its base in such manner that no strains are exerted on the nipples attached to the cock nor on any pipe connections thereto, the usual arrangement for supporting the cock on its side nipples being eliminated.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as the description herein progresses, the description referring to the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view partly in section looking longitudinally of the branch line which is controlled;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but at right angles thereto, the sectional portions of this view being taken along the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the installation showing the upper face of the cover cap;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

lFigure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line 6 -6 of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line '1 1 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view through the bottom part of the installation showing a modied construction of the footpiece adapted for use with stop cocks of the smaller sizes;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 8 and showing the stop cock mounted in operating position resting on the footpiece;

Figure '10 is a perspective View of the preferred form of the footpiece, which form is particularly useful in supporting stop 'cocks of the larger sizes, this type being shown in the assembly of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional View taken along line Il-II of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is a perspective View of a modified form of the footpiece, same being that type which is shown installed in Figures 8 and 9.

It will be understood that a purpose of the invention is to provide an installation which will accommodate stop cocks of various sizes, and with this intention, the cock-enclosing box on the lower end of the tubular liner is made large enough and with large enough openings to accommodate a considerable range of sizes. In association with this same box, different sizes and types of footpieces may be employed, de-

pending on the size of the cock being installed, so that a range of sizes may be accommodated. .[n general, the footpiece of Figure is ernployed with the cocks of larger sizes, whereas the Figure l2 type is used with the cocks of the smaller sizes, it being understood that the single enclosing housing or box will fit and will be used with both the Figure 10 and Figure 12 design of footpiece.

Referring to Figure l, the installation comprises in general a tubular liner L having a cockenclosing box B at its lower end and a cover cap C at its upper end, there being a footpiece F which supports the entire assembly as well as the stop cock V which is supported on the footpiece and surrounded by the box.

rIhe tubular liner consists of an outer and lower casing I and an inner and upper casing I2 which telescopes in and with respect to the outer or lower casing.

The outer casing terminates at its lower end in an enlarged hollow enclosure portion Iii and there are diametrically opposed arch-like openings i6 and I'I in the side wall of the enclosing portion I4, these arches being high and wide enough to pass the side nipples of stop cocks of various sizes without contact therewith, both the cool; and the housing resting upon the footpiece F as hereinafter described.

It will be understood that the archways I6 and I'I are open at the bottom edge of the enclosure I4 so that they may pass downwardly around the stop cock until the enclosure rests upon the footpiece.

Referring particularly to Figure l0, the footpiece comprises a nat floor I8 on which the stop cock is supported, a short upwardly extending cylindrical wall 20 terminating in a horizontal supporting ledge 22, and an interrupted exterior base ange consisting of diametrically opposed segmental ground engaging plates 24 which are separated by open spaces 26. The bottoms of the plates I8 and 24 lie in the same plane so that the footpiece rests flatly on the ground presenting an extensive base area which precludes forcing of the footpiece into the ground to an undesirable extent.

Referring to Figure 1, it will be observed that the lower end of the housing III is hollowed out as at 28 in order to pass downwardly around the portion 20 of the footpiece in a somewhat loose manner, and this hollowed out portion terminates at its upper end in an interior circular ledge 3l) which is adapted to engage and rest upon the face 22 of the footpiece when the housing reaches its properly supported position on the footpiece.

As shown in Figure 7, as well as in Figure 1, the housing I4 is provided with corresponding exterior oppositely disposed segmental base plates 32, which are arranged on the housing between the sides thereof in which the archways I6 and I'I are cut, and when the ledge 30 of the housing contacts the ledge 22 of the footpiece, the segmental ground engaging plates 32 lie in the same plane with the floor I8 of the footpiece which is the same plane as that of the segmental ground engaging plates 24 of the footpiece, whereby a substantially complete section having an extensive ground engaging area is provided. Therefore, when the parts are assembled as shown in Figure 1, the weight of the housing and the tubular liner are carried on the footpiece, yet when the housing and the footpiece are in engagement, all of the ground engaging the vertical slots plates or surfaces of these two parts are in contact with the ground, thus providing a rm foundation for the entire installation.

It will further be apparent upon observing Figure 2 that the stop cock rests entireiy on the floor I8 of the footpiece, and that the side nipples of the stop cock do not contact any part or" the footpiece nor do they contact any of the walls of the archways in the walls of the housing I.

As a strength provision, vertically inclined webs 34 may be provided extending between the segmental plates 32 and the side wall of the housing Iii.

Referring to Figures 1 and 5, it will be noted that the wall of the outer casing IB is somewhat enlarged on its opposite sides to provide diametrically opposed guiding grooves 3%, and these grooves are designed to receive, in sliding engagement, outwardly extending lugs 38 on the lower end of the inner casing. Referring now to Figures 2 and 6, it will be observed that the upper end of the enclosure it about the plate where it joins the lower end of casing iii is provided with an inwardly extending circular ledge Ml, this ledge being in two opposed parts as shown in Figure 6 and being interrupted at diametrically opposed points by slots 42, the slots being of a width slightly greater than that or the lugs 3S.

Above the ledge lill, there are opposed interior circular grooves is in the lower end of the casing IB, these grooves being of a height slightly greater than that of the lugs Lit and extending throughout substantially7 y9D from the slots #i2 to the vertical grooves 36.

As a result of the above construction, and at the time of installation, the inner easing with its cover cap removed may be inserted upwardly into the outer easing, by aligning the lugs 38 on the inner casing with the slots l2 on the outer casing. When the lugs pass through the slots to a point above the ledge Ml, the two casings may be relatively rotated in proper direction until the lugs pass around the circular slot il to a point below 36, whereupon the upper easing may be telescoped outwardly and upwardly with respect to the lower casing to make a tubular liner of any desired length depending upon the depth of installation of the stop cock, there being a limit to this lengthening of the liner depending on the position of the upper abutment ends of the slots 36 near the upper end oi' the outer casing, as indicated at 5t in Figure 2.

It will be apparent from Figure 6 that there can be no error in properly aligning the lugs 3S with vertical slots 3B for the rotary movement of the former in the circular slots lill is limited by the terminal ends 52 of these circular slots, said ends being so positioned that the lugs are in register with the vertical slots 36 when they contact these terminal walls.

When the parts have thus been assembled, it is not possible for the inner casing i2 to dropdownwardly to a sufficient extent to injure the valve, for the ledge 4c provides an abutment limiting the downward relative movement of the inner casing. It is only by an intentional reverse rotation of the two casings with respect to one another with the lugs 3S in the circular slots 44 that the lugs could again be brought into register with the slots #l2 in order to permit the lower end of the inner casing to pass downwardly into the enclosure I4.

At the upper end of the outer casing il), there is the usual means for temporarily holding the inner casing in adjusted vertical position with re.

spect to the outer casing, for instance, at the time when the hole is being iilled in around the tubular liner after the stop cock is installed. This means comprises an annular groove 56 in the interiorwall of the outer casing I0, and the usual split ring 58 in that groove and closely embracing the inner casing l2. As is well understood in the art, such an arrangement will permit elongating or shortening the tubular liner when sullicient force is applied, but the parts are held in any adjusted position when no force is applied, so that they can be ultimately' retained in the adjusted position as by lling in around the liner with earth and beneath the cover cap of the inner casing.

It will be understood that during the telescoping adjustment of the two casings, as just described, the cover cap will be removed and after the inner casing is inserted into the outer casing, this cover cap may be threaded and secured on the upper end of the inner casing.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the cover cap comprises a top plate 6I] having a central hub portion 52 depending therefrom, there being radial webs 64 to strengthen the cap. The interior wall of the hub has a counterbore '66 formed therein, and received therein is a circular collar or nonferrous bushing 68 which lines the interior wall of the hub 62. The bushing is interiorly threaded to connect with the threads 'I0 on the upper end of the casing I2, and it has a lower depending skirt I2 of adequate length to extend a substantial distance below the threads, this extending portion of the bushing below the threads having a smooth bore.

The cover cap is made of cast iron and the upper casing I2 is made of steel which is painted or galvanized. A serious weakness of prior art constructions has been that the upper casing section has a tendency to rust in two at the base of the threads due to being in contact with the earth which contains corrosive elements which attack exposed portions of steel pipe.

The downwardly extending skirt of the bushing 68 which has the smooth bore ts closely around the unthreaded portion of the steel pipe. As the steel pipe is galvanized or painted up to its threads, the non-ferrous skirt provides a close tting housing to protect the threads.

A closure plug I i is threaded into the bushing 68 above the end of the casing I2. This plug may be made of brass or plated with non-ferrous metal, and it protects the housing of the end of the upper casing I2 against earth and moisture, thus greatly prolonging the life of the installation.

The arrangement using the mo'died footpiece for stop cocks of the smaller sizes is shown in Figures 8, 9, l1 and 12. Referring to Figure 12, the footpiece has the same door, designated I8, to support the base of the stop cocks as previously described. It also has opposed cylindrical portions 26 having top stop faces 22' to engage the shoulder 3c in the socket 28 of the housing I4 as previously described, but the portions 20 are not continuous in that they connect with integral opposed sets of upstanding lugs 80 which are disposed exteriorly of the lower end 0f the housing I 4 (as shown in Figure 9) when the parts are assembled. These upstanding lugs 8!) are provided with cut-outs 82 of hexagonal or other appropriate coniiguration to receive the similarly formed extending nipples of the stop cock, as will likewise be apparent from Figure 9. On the interior of this footpiece, there arev opposed lugs 84 to loosely engage the hexagonal closure cap at the base of the stop cock when it 6 rests on the door of the footpiece, to centrally position the stop cock in and on the footpiece, It will be understood that the upstanding portion 20' of the footpiece fits somewhat loosely within the socket 28 at the lower end of the housing I4.

At the opposed sides of the footpiece in line with the branch conduit, there are outwardly extending segmental ground engaging plates 24', and it will be apparent from Figures 8, 9 and 1l that these segmental plates complement and lie in the same plane as the corresponding plates 32 on the lower end of the housing, thus providing the extensive circular area to engage the ground and provide a rm foundation for the installation, all as previously described.

While the lugs Bil may be useful in centering stop cocks of the smaller sizes, it will be understood that in the preferred embodiment of Figure l the corners of the hexagonal closure on the bottom of the stop cock t rather closely against the inside wall of the circular rim 2B, thus loosely centering the stop cock in the footpiece.

In both embodiments, the segmental ground engaging plates interlock in a somewhat loose manner so that no machining of the castings is necessary.

In all embodiments, it will be noted that the design provides for the entire weight of the stop cock resting against the bottom of the footpiece, and thus there is no possibility of breaking off the nipples of the stop cock as was the case in prior art constructions where the stop cock bridged the footpiece while being supported by its nipples.

Both the footpiece and the housing, as described, may be cast and placed in use without the necessity of any machine work on them, and when assembled together, they are somewhat loosely locked against relative rotary movement.

It will be apparent that we have provided an improved installation of the character described of a design which fully supports and completely protects the stop cock against any injurious forces which might otherwise be applied to it, and further, that we have provided such an installation capable of accommodating stop cocks which may be of considerable variation in size. The installation is characterized by the simplicity and economy of its manufacture and has features referred to which give it long life without maintenance.

We claim:

1. A service box and support for a stop cock having a body provided with side nipples, comprising a unitary footpiece having a central floor plate to engage the bottom end of the cock to support same in said footpiece, said footpiece having an interrupted exterior base flange providing opposed segmental ground engaging plates which are circularly spaced from one another, and a tubular liner for the well to the cock having a tubular cock enclosing box on the lower V end thereof which is adapted to be supported on said footpiece, the wall of said box having opposed archways therein of height and width to surround the nipples of the cock without exerting downward pressure thereon when said box is supported on said footpiece, said box also having an interrupted exterior base flange providing opposed segmental ground engaging plates which are disposed between said archways and which enter between and complement the segmental plates of said footpiece, said footpiece and box having engaging stop surfaces which limit the relative downward movement of said box when said segmental plates reach thesame plane to prevent application of pressure through said liner and box to the cock nipples or their connecting pipes.

2. A service box and stop cock support comprising a unitary footpiece having a central floor plate to engage the bottom end of the stop cock to support the same in said footpiece, said footpiece havingan interrupted exterior base flange providing opposed segmental ground engaging plates which are circularly spaced from one another, and a tubular liner for the well to the cock having a tubular cock enclosing box on the lower end thereof which is adapted to be supported on said ootpiece, the wall of said box having opposed archways therein of height and width to surround the nipples of the cock without exerting downward pressure thereon when said box is supported on said footpiece, said box also having an interrupted exterior base flange providing opposed segmental ground engaging plates which are disposed between said archwavs and which enter between and complement the segmental plates of said footpiece, said ootpiece having an upwardly extending rim around its central floor plate and said box having a socket to receive said rim and a shoulder to engage the upper end of said rim, the engagement of said shoulder and rim limiting the relative downward movement oi said box when said segmental plates reach the sameplane.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said footpiece has opposed pairs of upwardly extending guides to receive the extending nipples from the stop cock, said guides being positioned outside of the archways through the walls of said box.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein positioning lugs are provided on said central oor plate to center a stop cock of smaller size supported thereon.

5. A service box and stop cock support comprising a unitary footpiece having a closed center portion forming a floor plate to contact the ground and to engage the bottom end of the stop cock to support the same in said footpiece, and a tubular liner for the well to the cock having a tubular cock enclosing box on the lower end thereof which is adapted to be supported on said footpiece, the wall of said box having opposed archways therein of height and width to surround the nipples of the cock without exerting downward pressure thereon when said box is supported on said footpiece, said box also having an interrupted exterior base flange providing opposed segmental ground engaging plates which are disposed between said archways, said footpiece and box having engaging stop surfaces which limit the relative downward movement of said box when said segmental plates reach the same plane as that oi said oor plate to prevent application of pressure through said liner and box to the cock nipples or their connecting pipes.

References Cited in the file 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 334,137 Smith Jan. 12, 1886 380,308 Barry Apr. 3, 1888 616,542 Koehne Dec. 2'?, 1898 741,477 Flinn Oct, 13, 1903 961,178 Tyler June 14, 1910 1,099,804 Johnson June 9, 1914: 1,253,806 Frazer Jan. 15, 1918 1,307,346 Crall June 24, 1919 1,349,610 Gibney Aug. 17, 1920 2,008,138 Le Duc July 16, 1935 2,046,700 Sander July '7, 1936 

